1896 to 1925. The first vans

The first Daimler truck – or was it really a van?

The first Daimler truck was completed in 1896. This ground-breaking vehicle was fitted with a 4-speed belt transmission and a two-cylinder "Phoenix" engine. Although the Phoenix still used the hot tube ignition system, it was already equipped with a spray jet carburettor and developed a creditable 4 hp.

The Daimler truck had a payload of 1,500 kg, which would qualify it as a van by today's standards. The first vehicle completed was delivered to England.

Benz Velo combination delivery van

The small two-seater coach carriage with chain drive was derived from the Benz "Velo" and featured a removable box body. The four-stroke single-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1045 cc was installed in a horizontal position at the rear and produced 2.75 hp at 600 rpm.

This enabled it to reach a maximum speed of 20 km/h and carry a payload of 300 kg, including the driver. From 1900 to 1902, two further engine variants with 3.5 hp at 800 rpm and 4.5 hp at 900 rpm, respectively, were produced.